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In our note, Credit resilience from CLO structure and manager, we noted the fall in the prices of loans that could be affected by recent events in the Middle East (e.g. surge in energy prices). Also, concerns related to AI disruption have penalised software companies’ loans. In our note, we reiterated why Volta’s underlying portfolio exposure is limited, noting the double benefits from i) incremental protections embedded within CLO vehicles, ii) the manager’s track record of better-than-CLO market risk management, driven by CLO manager selection and portfolio construction. The MTM accounting means NAV will show some sentiment-driven volatility as will the share price, but the underlying portfolio drives medium-term performance.

  • CLO market protections: CLOs have exhibited below-corporate-loan-average losses because of the embedded incremental risk protections built into these structures. These include limits on average risk, concentration, covenant light, spread, average life and over-collateralisation as well as vehicle cash retention.
  • Volta better than market: We highlight Volta’s performance in major market risk events such as the GFC and the early stages of the pandemic and note how well it performed when there was company-specific newsflow such as Altice. These reflect the incremental controls in its large-scale, global manager.
  • Valuation: Volta trades at a double discount: its share price is at a 16% discount to NAV, and we believe its NAV includes a sentiment-driven discount to the expected cashflows. Volta’s yield (2026E: 11%) is a key attraction, and, we estimate it will be 1.5x covered, giving investors considerable comfort.
  • Risks:  Credit risk is a key sensitivity. We examined the valuation of assets, highlighting the multiple controls to ensure its validity, in our September 2018 initiation note. The NAV is exposed to sentiment towards its own and underlying markets. Volta’s long $ position is only partially hedged.
  • Investment summary:  Volta is an investment for sophisticated investors, as both the NAV and the discount to NAV may be volatile over time. Fundamental, long-term share returns are robust: 9.1% p.a. (dividend reinvested basis) since inception to end-Feb 2026. Volta’s returns for investments made after the financial crisis were double those in prior years.
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